Tags: fines
03/19/09
Traffic cameras billed as answer to Chicago's budget deficit
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By Joel Hruska
The Windy City, like a lot of other metropolitan areas of late, is facing major budget deficits in the face of the recession's strong bite. State and local governments alike have been hunting for additional sources of revenue, so it's not surprising that a Chicago alderman would entertain the possibility of installing red light cameras along the city's major thoroughfares and intersections. This time around, though, the company trumpeting the addition of these digital watchdogs isn't portraying them as useful tools for catching speeders—instead, camera provider InsureNet claims to have developed "a simple yet complete answer that delivers totally accurate, instant insurance status verification. An additional unique advantage is that this system is also non-invasive, ensuring protection for every insurer and policyholder."
The Chicago Sun-Times quotes InsureNet president Dr. Jonathan Miller on what the city might expect to earn with the system in 2009. "Certainly, it will be well in excess of $100 million," Dr. Miller said. "We think at least $200 million. And the upward projections are far higher." InsureNet would charge a collection fee of "just" 30 percent in exchange for its services. Clearly, this type of system—installed at no small cost—is all about making money.
08/15/08
New York Traffic Ticket Prices Going Up, Up and Away!
According to New York traffic attorney
Matthew Weiss, Esq. (http://www.nytrafficticket.com), the New York State
Department of Motor Vehicles reports that motorists will soon be paying a
hefty 60% increase in surcharges for New York traffic tickets. As of August
1, the surcharge has gone to $80.00, just having gone from $50 to $60.00 on
July 1st. Originally $5.00, this surcharge was instituted by then-Gov. Cuomo
in the 1980s and has quickly grown to often surpass the actual fine amounts.
The surcharge is payable in addition to the actual fine for the NY moving
violation. It is also payable in addition to the $300 (or more) Driver
Assessment Responsibility Fee, which is imposed upon motorists that accumulate
six or more points. The Driver Assessment Fee is payable by all motorists
regardless of their state of license, that have 6 or more points in New York.
According to Weiss, "New York politicians use motor vehicle traffic laws
as a multi-faceted way to tax New York drivers which, of course, creates
further incentive for motorists to fight their tickets." Weiss adds that,
because the high cost of gas is reducing vehicle traffic on major NY highways,
"the police have fewer targets to ticket and therefore need to squeeze more
money out of each victim. Courts have no discretion to waive or reduce the
surcharge and often the surcharge exceeds the actual fine amount for the
traffic ticket."
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